Bevel-gear generator.



G. D. SUNDSTRAND.

BEVEL GEAR GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21.1911.

Patented June 4, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

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G. D. SUNDSTRAND.

BEVELGEAR GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 'MAY 21. 1917. 1,268,513 12. Patented June 4, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

; llll l ,wumimulm I I r a mun" e. 0. SUNDSTRAND.

BEVEL GEAR GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZI. 1917.

1 2 15 1 2 Patented June 4, 1918. I

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- FEQ. 4

G. D. SUNDSTRAND.

BEVEL GEAR GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1917.

Patented June 4, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5 f flow ME 1 mwgs-mlm GUSTAF DAVID S'UIBI'DSTRAND, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROCKFORD TOOL COMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BEVEL-GEAR GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed may 21, 1917. Serial No. 169,842.

to improve the means for indexing the gear-' blank; to improve the means for automatically reversing the direction of travel of the cutters; and to simplify the drive for the cutters.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bevel-gear generating machine embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately in the plane of dotted line 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 1s a .sectional view of a portion of the cutter drive. Fig. 4 is a fragmental vertical central sectional view. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the indexing mechanism, the view being taken in the plane of dotted line 5-5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a view taken in the plane of dotted line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 6* is a fragmental view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the reversible drive for the cutter slides. Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views showing the means for adjusting the cutters.

The present embodiment of the invention com rises a base 1 upon which is supported a ta le 2. The table has a central hub or bearing 3 which is mounted on a pivot 4 (Fig. 4). The pivot 4 isintegral with a bearing 5 connected to the main frame. 6 is an arcuate guide fixed to the top of the base 1 and extending into a groove in the rear edge of the table 2. The table is oscillated upon the pivot 4 by means of a pitman 7 (Fig. 3) pivoted at 8 to the table and connected to a Wrist-pin 9 adjustably carried by a crank disk 10. Said disk is fixed to a shaft 11 (Fig. 1) which is mounted in a bearing on the base 1. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 11 is a gear wheel 12 that meshes with a gear wheel 13, the last mentioned gear wheel being rigid with a worm wheel 14 (Fig. 3). A worm 15 enga ing the worm wheel 14 is fixed upon a sha 16. Fixed to the shaft 16 is a bevel gear wheel 17 that meshes with a bevel gear wheel 18 (Fig. 4) which is rotatably mounted upon a spindle 19 carried by the bearing 5. Meshing with the bevel gear wheel 18 is a bevel pinion 2O fixed to the drive shaft 21.

On the drive shaft are mounted a tight pulley 22 and a loose pulley 23.

Two guides'24 are pivoted to the table at 25. Screws 26 carried by the table 2 and engaging nuts carried by the guides 24, provide means for adjusting the guides, said screws having squared outer ends to receive a crank (not shown). The guides may be secured in adjusted position by suitable means, as, for example, clamping screws 27 the heads of which lie in T-slots 28 in the table. It will be seen that the guides 24 may be turned so as to diverge more or less from each other as shown in Fig. 3. The angle between the guides depends upon the shape of the gear to be cut.

On the upper sides of the guides 24 are formed gibs 29 on which are mounted two cutter-supporting slides 30. The means for reciprocating the slides 30 comprises a leadscrew 31 (Fig. 4) supported in bearings in a gear case 32 that is fixed to the table 2. The forward end of the lead screw is squared to receive a hand crank. The lead screw engages a nut 33 carrying a stud 34. The slides 30 are connected to the stud 34 byv means of links 35. The lead screw is rotated alternately in opposite directions in order to reciprocate the slides 30. The means for rotating the lead screw in the forward or cutting direction comprises a pinion 36 (Fig. 7) rotatably mounted on the lead screw and meshing with two pinions 37 rotatably mounted on screw studs 38 fixed to a spur gear wheel 39. Rigid with each pinion 37 is a smaller pinion 40 that meshes with a stationary gear wheel 41. The gear wheel 41 has a hub or sleeve 42 that is keyed to the gear case 32. The gear wheel 39 meshes with a gear wheel 43 (Fig. 2). Rigid with the gear wheel 43 is a change gear 44 that meshes with a change gear 45. The gear 45 is rigid with a gear wheel 46 that meshes with a gear wheel 47. The gear wheel 47 is fixed upon a shaft 48 that carries a bevel gear wheel 49 (Fig. 4) which meshes with the constantly -driven bevel gear wheel 18. p

The means for rotating the lead screw 31 in the reverse direction to return the cutters to initial position comprises a pinion 50 loosely mounted on the lead screw 31 and meshing witha spur gear wheel 51 fixed on the shaft48.

The pinions 36 and 50 run in opposite directions and at different speeds, and are alternately clutched to the lead screws 31 by means of a clutch member 52 (Fig. 7), said clutch member being slidable longitudinally of the lead screw but being connected thereto by a spline so that the clutch member and the lead screw rotate together. The clutch member 52 is adapted to engage clutch faces on the pinions 36 and 50. The clutch member 52 is slidable by a fork 53 which is pivoted on the axis 54 in the gear case 32. Also pivoted on said axis is a hand lever 55. The fork 53 extends above the axis 54 and comprises plates 56 that are located at opposite sides of the hand lever and allow a certain amount of lost motion or independent pivotal movement between the fork and the hand lever. A plunger or cam 57 having oppositely-inclined ends is supported upon a compression spring 58. On the hand lever 55 is a roller stud 59 adapted to roll over the cam 57. Said cam serves to complete the movement ofthe hand lever and consequently of the fork 53 in either direction. A rod 60 is longitudinally slidable in the gear case 32 and has a pin-and-slot connectionwith the hand lever 55. The rod 60 extends freely through the stud 34 (Fig.4). On the rod 60 are two collars 61 and 62 at opposite sides of the stud 34. The collars 61 and 62 are adjustably secured upon the rod 60 so that they may be set at difierent points'along the length of said rod in order to effect the shifting of the clutch collar 52 at desired times. Assuming the clutch collar to be in engagement withone of the pinions 36 and 50, it will be seen that when the stud 34 engages one of the collars 61 and 62, the rod 60 will be moved in the continuing movement of the stud 34, whereby the hand lever 55'will be moved until the roller stud 59 reaches an inclined end of the cam 57, whereupon the pressure of the cam against the roller stud will cause the hand lever to complete its movement and place the clutch collar 52 in engagement with the other pinion. The lost-motion connection between the yoke 53 and the hand lever 55 permits the clutch collar to be suddenly shifted from one pinion to the other. 7

The return movement imparted to the slides 30 through the pinion 50 is faster than the feed movement derived through the pinion 36. I

Each of the milling cutters 63 is fixed to screw 67 to clamp the bushings 65 in ad usted position. The means for turning the bushings 65 comprises worms 68 having squared spindles 69 to receive a wrench, said WQIIIIS engaging worm-wheel teeth formed on the bushings. The means for sliding the bushings comprises pinions 70 (Fig. 9) having squared spindles 71 to receive a wrench, said pinions engaging rack teeth formed on the bushings 65. After the cutters have been adjusted by means of the worms 68 and the pinions 70, the bushings 65 are locked inadjusted position by means of the clamping screws 67.

The spindles 64 are in the same horizontal plane. The cutters are arranged side by side but in planes inclined to each other. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the cutters comprise a plurality of segments 63 that intermesh at the forward portions of the cutters when the cutters are in operative position. By reason of such intermeshing of the cutters, one of the cutters is driven from the other. The spindle of the last mentioned cutter is driven from a shaft 72 (Fig. 3) through bevel gears 73. The shaft 72 is connected by a universal joint 74 to a shaft 75. As shown in Fig. 3, a gear wheel 76 having a hub 77 is rotatably mounted in the gear case 32. Fixed to the side of the wheel 76 is a disk 78 having a hub 79 which is rotatably mounted in the gear case 32. The gear wheel 76 is chambered to receive a disk 80 havinga hub 81 through which the shaft is slidable. A spline compels the shaft 75 to rotate with the disk 80. vPins 82 fixed 85 meshes with a change gear 86. The gear 86 is rigid with a gear 87 (Fig. 3) that meshes with a gear 88 (Fig. 2). The gear 88 meshes with the constantly-rotating gear 47.

The gear blank a (Fig. 4) maybe secured to the Work spindle 89 by any suitable means, as, for example, a clamping rod 90. A spacer 91 of any required form and dimensions may be interposed between the blank and the lower end of the spindle. The spindle is rotatably supported in a bearing 92 carried by a-slide 93, which slide is mounted upon a. pivoted frame or support 94. The slide 93 may be moved by means of a screw rod 95 fixed to the slide and engaging a nut 96 rotatably mounted on the frame 94. A spindle 97 having a bevel-er connection with the nut 96 provides means for turning the nut to advance or retract the work spindle. The axis of the work spindle intersects the axis of oscillation of the table 2. The work spindle is adjustable in the direction of its axis toward and away from the table 2 to a position suitable for a gearblank of the diameter to be operated upon.

The frame 94 has two trunnions 98 and 99 which are mounted in bearings 100 at opposite sides of the table 2. The axis of the trunnions intersects the axis of rotation of the table and the axis of the work spindle 89. It will be seen that the frame 94 is arranged to swing about an axis which intersects theaxis of the work spindle at the apex of-the pitch cone of the bevel gear to be generated, thus adapting the machine to generate the teeth of bevel gears having pitch cones of varying angles.

The means for pivotally adjusting the frame 94 comprises a curved rack or spurgear segment 101 (Fig. 1) fixed to the frame 94 and meshing with a pinion 102 mounted on the base 1. Rigid with the pinion 102 is a worm-wheel 103 that meshes with a worm 104. Said worm has a spindle having a square outer end 105 to receive a crank (not shown). After the frame 94 has been adjusted to the desired position it may be locked in such position by means of a clamp member 106 (Fig. 3) engaging the rack 101 and tightened by a bolt 107.

The means for rocking or oscillating the work spindle 89 will next be described. The frame94 comprises a bearing 108 (Fig. 4) alined with the bearing 92. In the bearing 108 is rotatably supported a sleeve 109 which is rigid with a gear case .110. Adjustably secured to the gear case 110 is a bevel gear segment 111 that meshes with a similar seg- .ment 112 which is adjustably secured to the oscillating table 2. The work spindle 89 is caused to oscillate with the gear case 110 by reason of the fact that the gear case carries a worm 113 that meshes with a worm wheel 114 which is splined on the work spindle.

After a' tooth space or groove has been completed in the gear blank a, the work spindle is turned with relation to the gear case 110 in order to bring another portion of the blank into position to be grooved by the cutters 63. The means for thus indexing the gear blank includes the worm 113 and the worm wheel 114 hereinbefore mentioned. The worm is rigid with a change gear 115 (Fig. 1) that meshes with an intermediate change gear 116. The 116 is rigid with a change gear 11'? (Fig. 2) that meshes with a change gear 118. The gear 113 is rigid with a pinion 119 (Fig. 6) that meshes with a spur gear wheel 120 keyed on a shaft 121. The shaft 121 is rotated only when the blank (1 is to be indexed. At such constantly-rotating gear wheel 122.

times, the shaft 121 is driven through a spur gear wheel 122 that meshes with a constantly-rotating pinion 123. The pinion 123 is driven through bevel gearing contained in a gear case 124 (Fig. 2). Said bevel gearing is driven by an extensible shaft 125 consisting of two telescoping sections. One of the shaft-sections is connected to the before-mentioned bevel gearing by a universal joint 126. The other shaft-section isv connected by a universal joint 127 to bevel gearing inclosed within a gear case 128. The last-mentioned bevelgearing is driven by a shaft 129 which in turn is driven through a gear train 130 131 132 133 (Fig; 4). The gear 133 is fixed on a shaft 134 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is driven from the drive shaft 21 through a chain belt 135.

The shaft 121 is normally held stationary by a lever 136 (Fig. 5) which is fixed on a spindle 137. Rigid with the spindle is an arm 138 (Fig. 4). A tension spring 139 (Fig. 6) attached to the arm 138 normally holds a tooth 140 on the lever 136 in engagement with registering notches 141 in two disks 142 and 143 and a plate 144. The disk 143 is fixed on the shaft 121.

The means for removing the tooth 140 from the notches 141 when the blank is to be indexed comprises a projection 145 (Fig. 5) which is rigidly fixed to the hub 146 ofsths a1 projection is adapted to engage a finger 147 pivoted to the lever 136. A torsion spring 148 tends to swing the finger 147 away from the orbit of the projection 145 and normally holds the finger against a stop pin 147". The means for swinging said finger into the orbit of the projection when indexing should occur comprises an arm 149 pivoted on the lever 136 and having a pivoted finger 150 arranged to bear against the finger 147. A torsion spring 150 tends to swing the finger 149 against a stop pin 150 on the arm 149 and normally holds the finger 150 against the lower end of the finger 147. The finger 149 is controlled by the cutter-supporting slides 30 through any suitable connections. Herein is shown a wire or other flexible connection 151 (Fig. 5) attached at one end to the arm 149 and at its other end to a bracket 152 (Fig. 3) fixed to the forward end of the rod 60. A flexible conduit 151 incloses the wire 151 and prevents said wire from buckling. Vdhen, in the return movement of the cutters, the rod is slid through the action of the stud 34 (Fig. 4) on the collar 62 and the action of the cam 57 (Fig. 7) on the roller stud 59, the wire 151 swings the arm 149 toward the left (Fig. 5), the end of the finger 159 pushing against the side of the finger 14? and thus swinging the finger 147 into the path of the projection 1,45, whereupon said projection swings the lever 136 until the tooth 140 is out of the notches 141 with which it Was in engagement.

The finger 147 is locked in position to be engaged by the projection 145 by a spring latch 147 pivoted on the lever 136 and arranged to engage a lug 147 on said finger. After the projection 145 has efiected the removal of the tooth 140 from the notches 141, the latch is disengaged from the lug 147 through contact of said latch with a stop 147 on the gear case 110. i

The means for clutching the shaft 121 to the constantly-rotating wheel 122 when the shaft is released by the removal of the tooth 140 from the notches 141 will next be de-' scribed. The disk 142 has a hub or sleeve 153 (Figs. 5 and 6) surrounding the shaft 121. The sleeve 153 is longitudinall slotted.

as at 154 to receive a roller 155. djacent to the roller is a fiat surface 156 on the shaft 121. In the disk 143 is a recess 157 (Fig. 6) containing a tension spring 158, which spring is secured at one end to the disk 142 and at its other end to the disk 143. the tooth 140 is in the notches 141, the disk 142 stands in such position that the roller 155 is held midway of the fiat surface 156. When the tooth 140 is withdrawn, the spring 158 turns the disk 142, slightly, with relation to the disk 143, thereby moving the roller to the left (Fig. 5). The roller thus becomes wedged between the shaft 121 and the wheel 122. As a result, the wheel 122 drives the shaft 121, thereby causing the work spindle to be turned. The length of the are through which the work spindle is turned depends upon the arrangement of the notches 141. Reverting now to the action of the projection 145;. As soon as said projection has rotated far enough to allow the finger 147 to slip off said prO ectiOn, the spring 139 places the tooth 140 in contact with the periphery of the disks 142 and 143. When in the revolution of the disks a pair of notches 141 arrive at the tooth 140, said tooth enters the notches, the slanting side of the tooth forcing the disk 142 back until said notches are in exact register, thus returning the roller 155 into neutral position, releasing the shaft121 from the constantly-rotating wheel 122, and locking the shaft and hence the work spindle against further rotation.

When the cutters have finished cutting a groove in the blank, the stud 34 (Fig. 4) collides with the collar-61, thus causing the clutch to be shifted and causing the wire 151 to pull the arm 149 to the right (Fig. 5). When the arm 149 is thus moved, the finger 150 is swung by its spring 150 into contact with the stop 150*.

The description hereinbefore given of the operation of the machine may be summarized as follows. Referring to Fig. 3: In

as traveling toward the front of the machine While the cutters form a groove in the blank.

Owing to the oscillating movements of the becomes tapered toward the apex of the pitch cone of the bevel gear being generated.

The tooth space having been completed, the travel of the cutters is reversed, the return movement thereof being at a greater speed than the working stroke. After the cutters have returned clear of the blank, the latter is turned through the distance of one tooth spaceby the indexing mechanism. The travel of the cutters is then reversed, and another tooth space formed in the blank. When the gear has been completed, the operator stops the machine, replaces the finished gear with a blank, and restarts the machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for generating bevel gears haw ing, in combination, a base, a support 'inounted thereon, a bearing on said support, a second bearing axially alined with said first mentioned bearing and slidable longitudinally with respect to said axis upon said support, and means for longitudinally adjusting said bearings with respect to each other, said means comprising a screw rod carried by said second mentioned bearing, a nut for said rod rotatably mounted on said slpport, and means for turning said nut to a vance or retract said screw rod and said second mentioned'bearing.

2. A machine for generating bevel gears having, in combination, a base, a support adjustably mounted thereon and adapted to be rigidly secured thereto, a bearing in said support, a second bearing axially alined with said first mentioned bearing and slidable longitudinally with respect to said axis upon said support, and means for longitudinally adjusting said bearings with respect to each other, said means comprising a screw rod carried by said second mentioned bearing, a nut for said rod rotatably mounted on said frame, and means for turning said nut to advance or retract said spindle, a gear segment fixed to the lower portion of said gear case, a ear segment fixed to the rear portion of t e table and meshing with the other gear segment, index gearing connected to the spindle and carried by the gear case, means for automatically actuating said gearing to index the spindle, cutting means carried by the table, and means to actuate the cutting means and oscillate the table.

4. A bevel gear generator having, in combination, a base, a table mounted on said base for oscillation upon avertical axis, a support pivoted to said base for adjustment upon a horizontal axis intersecting the axis of the table, means for adjusting and locking said support, a work spindle rotatably mounted upon said support, the axis of said spindle intersecting the axes of the table and the support, a gear case rotatably mounted upon the spindle, a worm wheel fixed upon the spindle within the gear case, a worm carried by the gearcase and meshing with the worm wheel, a shaft carried by the support at the axis of the support, connections between said shaft and said Worm for rotating the latter, means for rotating the shaft, means for controlling the worm, cutting means carried by the table, and means to actuate the cutting means and oscillate the table.

5. In a machine, the combination of a base, a table oscillatable thereon, a guide pivotally mounted upon said table and supporting a reciprocable cutter slide, a device including a screw for adjusting said ide upon said table, and means for securmg said guide in adjusted position, said table having an arcuate slot concentric with said pivot, said securing means including a clamping member seatable in said slot.

6. In a machine, the combination of a base, a table oscillatable thereon, a pair of guides each pivotally mounted upon said table, a reciprocable cutter slide supported on each guide, and adjusting and securing means for each guide comprising a device including a screw for adjusting said guide upon said table and a clamping member seatable in an arcuate slot in said table concentric with said pivot for securing said guide to said table in the adjusted position.

7. In a machine, the combination of a cutter-supporting slide, a bearing thereon, a bushing slidable in said bearing, a cuttersupporting spindle eccentrically supported in said bushing, adjusting means comprising a worm, a pinion, rack teeth and wormwheel teeth on said bushing, and means for locking said bushing in said bearing in the adjusted position.

8. In a machine, the combination of a cutter-supporting slide, a split bearing,

thereon, a bushing slidable in said bearing,

a cutter-supporting spindle eccentrically supported in said bushing, adjusting means comprising a worm, a pimon, rack teeth and worm-wheel teeth on said bushing, and

' means for locking said bushing in said hearing in the adjusted position, said means comprising a tensioning device coiiperating with said split hearing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

GUSTAF DA SUNDSTRAND. 

